Sheet-feeding machine.



H. 0. LA BATT.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION EILED JULY 10, 1902. RENEWED JAN. 10, 1910.

968,062, Patented Aug.23, 1910.

7 SHEETS SHEET 1.

3 a e /Z 13 8 53 n 6 S" /7- 3' o SS3 Java/Z357 H. 0. LA BATT.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 10, 1902. RENEWED JAN. 10, 1910.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. 0. LA BATTQ SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

v APPLIGA'IION FILED JULY 10, 1902. RENEWED JAN. 10, 1910- I 968,062, Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

' 7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

allium-ii;

H. 0. LA BATT.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1902. RENEWED JAN. 10 1910. 968,062, Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

7 SHEETSvSHEET 4.

ninumIInmnTnii: 5

java??? Q H. 0. LA BATT.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1902.

RENEWED JAN. 10, 191-0.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

7 SHEE'Ef-SHEET 6. 6 25s 6 H. G. LA BATT.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1902. RENEWED JAN. 10, 1910.

' Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

I SHEETS-SHEET 6.

H. 0. LA BATT.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1902. RENEWED JAN. 10, 1910.

968,062, Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7. m 4

I v I IIIIIIIIIIIIIH 3 Z7 ,2 mnfiiifl UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE- HOMER o. LAIBA'IT, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssI NoR TO ILLIAM J. HERRICIIII, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SHEET-FEEDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 10, 1902, Serial No. 115,014. Renewed January 10, 19 10. Serial No. 537,335.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, HOMER C. LA BATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Feeding Ma chines, of which the following is a specifie cation.

This invention relates to machines to suecessively feed sheets of paper one at a time from a pile or stack to printing, ruling, folding, and like machines.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved machine of this class in respect to the organization and construction of various of lts features, and the in-' vention consists in various constructions and organizations of parts, as fully described and claimed herein.

In order that the various features of my invention may be fully understood, I will first describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, and afterward point out the novelty thereof in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference letters. refer to similar parts throughout the several viewsFig ure 1 is a top plan view of a sheet feeding machine embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof on the side at which power is applied, certain of the parts being shown as broken away; Fig. 3 "is a sectional elevation of the same on the line 3 of Fig. 1; Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are detail views, partly in section and partly in side elevation, showing therelative positions of certain of. the parts in the various positions of one of the feed-heads of the front group of feeding-devices. Fig. 8 is a detail view of gearing employeo for the bucklers or pick-ups; Fig. 9 is a top view'of one of the bucklers of the rear groupof feeding devices, certain of the parts being shown as broken awa Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the parts of Fig, 9; Fig. 11- is a front elevation of the parts of Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the parts of Fig. 9; Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view on the line 13 of Fig. 9; Fig; 1 1 is a detail sectional view on the line 14- of Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a detail showing the same in a .diflerent position Patented Aug. 23,1910.

from that of Fig. 12; Fig. 16 is a side elevation of one of the feed-heads of the front group of feeding devices, the supporting bar thereof beingshown in section; Fig. 17 is a sectional view on the-"line 17 of Fig. 16;

' Fig. 18 is a detail view fishowing the construction of the foot of the rear buckler;

Fig. 19 is a detail view and, shows the construction of the feet of the feed-heads of the front group of feeding devices; Figs. 20 and 21 are side views of the disks forming the laminations of the foot of Fig. 18; Figs. 22 and 23 are side views of the plates forming the laminations of the foot of Fig. 19; Fig. 24 is a sectional view showing the construction of a clutch mechanism that may be employed, the View being taken on the line 24. of Fig. 25; Fig. 25 is a detail viewof cert-ainof the parts of Fi 24, the view being taken 011 the line 25 0 Fig. 24'; Fig. 26 is a detail view in elevation of certain of the parts of Fig. 24 Fig.2? is adetail View of the catch of Fig. 24 detached; and Fig. '28 is a perspective view of the pin of Fig. 24.

The stack or pile .of sheets S to be fed to the printing press, folder, or other machine, is positioned upon an adjustable table T,

which is positioned" to keep 'the top sheet this-purpose I may employ any suitable intermedlate connections to transmit power to the main shaft from the associated machine. 1 v

A through shafts? is suitably mounted ower. from the machine withwhich the fee er is assoc ated, and for in bearings, in therear of and parallel with S, and S machine, and is provided with a key-way or groove s all as shown in Fig. '1, for a purpose to be, hereinafter descrlbed. The main shaft S is provided with a worm or i screw-gear s, which meshes with a wormsleeves.

wheel s on the shaft S to rotate thelatter. The shaft S is also provided with a spiral gear 8, which engages a corresponding gear 8 on the through-shaft S to rotate the latter inthe direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. In practice the shaft S is given a single revolution to each eleven revolutions of the main-shaft, the latter having the speed of the folder or other associated machine, and revolving rapidly to furnish a quick feedoff of the sheets as hereinafter desbribed. The spiral gears drive the shaft S at the same speed. as the shaft S v In the operation of the machine, the initial separation of the top sheet from the pile or stack occurs atthe rear, and-consequently I shall first describe the organization of the parts that accomplish this function.

A pair ofguide rods A, one on each side of the machine, extends'rearwa'rdly from the risers a of the frame, and forms the support for an'adjustable carriage, which supports the devices employed at the 'rear end of the pile of sheets. -This carriage comprises opposite sleeves a, sliding on the rods A .and locked thereon by means of set screws 0, and a. pair of cross-rods c and c whichiare mounted at their ends in the scribed, but the rear-rod 0 does not rotate.

The adjustability of this carriage upon its guides permits the devices carried thereby to be set at any desired point over the greater area of the paper table, whereby the machine is adapted to operate upon sheets of diiferent sizes. 7 I

The rear carriage supports a pair of bucklers or pick-upsfshown' in detail in Figs. 9'

to 15, which are adapted to operate upon the rearor side edges of the sheets, and raise 1 ment, according to the length of the sheets,

by meansof a suitable set screw a, adapted to bear against the stationary rod 0 Each down through the block, by

The front rod c is adapted to rotate in its bearings as hereinafter de-' block is provided on one of its sides with an undercut guide or way 6, in which a rectangular plate e3 having correspondmgly beveled edges,is adapted to be moved for vertical adjustment. The plate a is provided at its lower end with a segmental plate or web 6 and 'at' its top with a wing or olfset portion e which is provided to ro-.

as the screw moves up or down in its bearing. The web '6 supports a bracket consisting of a plate and a leg; the plate a is segmental, and is adjustablymounted upon the web by means of a set-screw a in the latter passing through a slot e in the former, as

shown in Fig. 10. The bracket-leg 6 is located at the inner end of the plate e, and is curved downwardly and inwardly, as shown in Figs. 10 and'12, with its free endterminatlng ina bearing a, in which a vertical shaft 'e is rotatably mounted. This shaft extends upwardly throu h a channel in'the associated block E, and is provided 'with a key-way e, which is adapted to receive a'spline orfeather on the hub of a spiral-gear e. The ear e is located in a .recess provided in t e underface of the block E, and is held in place by a plate 6 which closes the recess, as shown in Fig. 10. The shaft 6. may therefore be moved up or means of the adjustment provided by the screw-shaft 'e and intermediate parts, and maintains operative relations with the gear a. The rotating shaft 0 is provided with a spiral gear 0 whichmeshes with the gear e. The gear a is provided with a feather to enter the groove or way 0 of the shaft 0 and it is moved'along the shaft, when the corresponding block E is shifted longitudinally thereof, by reason of the fact that it is located in a recess provided in the lateral ear of the block that engages the shaft 0,- as shown in 0 which is mounted in suitable bearings on the bracket-plate 0 just above the bracketarme The shaft 0 extends, forwardly beyond the block E, and carries a rotating pad or pick-up P. The shaft e is provided with a collar 6 to hold it in place, and on its inner end is mounted an adjustable buckler sleeve 0, which is held to rotate therewith in its adjusted position thereon by a setscrew- 6. An arm e 'is integral with the ing the pad out of operative position. The

sleeve, and carries'a hub 0 at its outer end, which is provided with a central channel to receive a movable pin 6 to one end of which is secured a thumb-piece e by means of a retaining pin 6 A sleeve e is loosely mounted on the pin 6 next to the hub, and carries an arm 6 upon the outer-end of which a yoke e is provided for the pad or sole P of the buckler. The sleeve e is provided with a detent e whichis adapted to be forced against a-stop or pin 6 extending laterally'from the arm 6, the sleeve beingv held to position by'means of a spring 6 which is secured to the yoke e at one end and at theother end "to a collar 6 fast on the pin 6 A-coil spring 6 surrounds the pin 6 between the sleeve e and collar 6 and serves to hold the parts in the position ofFig. 13, with the pin 6 of the disk 6 in'engagementwith one of the holes 6 of the hub. By this construction the pad is pivotally mounted upon the pin 6 and is yieldingly held by meaiis of the spring a, the detent preventing the springfrom throwtension of the spring e may be adjusted by withdrawing the pin (2 from engagement with the hole of the hub, and turning the disk and pin 6 to adjust the spring 6,

when the spring 6 will again lock the parts in position, as in Fig. 13. I

The pad? is a laminated structure composed of soft rubber disks 6, assembled upon a pin 6 mounted in .the ends of the yoke. I yielding edges of the rubber-disks, when they engage the paper, will tend to flatten out, as upon the dotted line Fig. 21,,sothat inst'ead'of engaging the paper atonly a single pointof their peripheries, they will .furnish'an extended contact surface. As the shaft 6 revolves, the pad is carried around the axis of the shaft as a centerof rotation in the direction of the arrow of Fig-11, and

thepad yieldingly engages the top sheet at its rear to buckle the latter against suitable holders F, which are hereinafter described, to produce th. initial separation. The pads P may be composed of alternate disks of metal or fibrous material 6 and of rub.- ber e The pads of the bucklers maybe adjusted angularly with relation to the shaft 0 so as to pick-up the paper from any angle at its sides or ends, by loosening the 'nut e and adjusting the bracket-plate e thereon,.the plate andits supporting web being on the segment of a circle whose center is the shaft e so that the parts remain in operative relation at any point of the adjustment.

. The pads are preferably set at an angle of twelve or fifteen degrees to the shaft 0 such asshown in Figs. 9 and 10. As the pads rotate they buckle the top sheet against the By means of this construction thefeet f of the holders F, and allow inflowing.

currents of air to passbeneath the sheet.

The holders F are carried on the shaft 0 and are adjustably securedthereon by setscrews- 7', so that they maybe set to agree with the different adjustments of the bnckl'ers. They are .provided with feet f, against which the sheets are buckled, and

with lips P, which hold therearedges of the sheet after it has been drawn forward by the front feeding-devices for the preliminary separation, and prevent the air blast from disturbing the sheet. The holders are .readily attachable to and detachable from the rod 0 by means of the half-collars with which they are provided as shown.

A holding foot is preferably associated with each-.pick-up or. pad, and is adapted to be li'fte'd fromthe sheet-during the interval that the pad is acting thereon. For this purpose I secure a stub 6 in the bracketarm e upon which is "mounted .a loose sleeve 6, having a forwardly projecting arm e carrying a presser-foot e, and a rearwardly extending arm 6 having an.

anti-friction roller e adapted to be acted upon by a cam a on the lower end of the shaft e Acoil spring et is mounted on the stub, and at one endengages the sleeve '6 and atthe other engages an adjusting button. or knob e, which is capable of slight longitudinal movement on the stub, against the force of the spring, to disengage a pin 0 on the stub, which enters recesses e on the front flange of the knob.

The shaft 0? is rotated from the shaft S The latter is provided with a spiral-gear 8 which engages and drives a corresponding inwardly projecting portions c, of the carriage, which embrace the wheel, as the car- .ria'ge is' adjusted along its guides A ..for

sheets of different sizes. The rotation of the sleeve 0 is transmitted to the shaft 0 by means of the elliptical spur-gear 0 which engages a corresponding gear 0 secured upon the. shaft 0 By this means the rotation of the shaft 0 is ivena varying speed, the parts being so -adjusted that the slow speed of the shaft shall-occur while the bucklers that are driven thereby are in engagement with the paper, and the accelerated 'speedshall occur. whilethe bucklers are revolving around their centers .out of engagement with the. paper. This arrangev ment of gears is shown in detail in Fig. 8.

[The stationary rod 0 may be conveniently employed as a support for brackets D for the air-supply devices, and which may be adj l sted along the rod to the required position and held by set-screws d. The brackets are provlded with split collars d to receive the I jus'ted verticall and radially. The air supsheet and the pile'at points in proximity to nozzles d whereby the latter may be ad- 'ply is furnishe from any suitable source, as

"by a tube- 01 on the risers. d,'and provided with a plurality of valves d, whereby air may be taken at any desired point. The valves connect with-the nozzles by suitable piping d5, and the tube is connected to any suitable source-of air supply. The nozzles are adjusted to inject the air between the top I the bucklers, so that after the bucklershave picked up the edge or'corners of the sheet, the air is'su-pplied beneath the sheet to lubricate it and loosen it from the pile throughout its surface. I

When the. bucklers have operated to raise the corners of the top sheet against the feet f of the holders, the sheet is fedzforward bythe .frontfeeding devices sufiiciently to draw the rear edge free of the feet but not beyond the action of the-lips f which engage the sheet .until the feeding-off mechanism, hereinafter described, ejects it en- 4 projecting stubs' or heads constituting the front members of the sheet-feeding devices. Eachsleeve is provided with an u right or standard a upon which is sliding y mounted a block a, the blocks being held in their lower positions by means of coil sp'ringsa, interposed-between the blocks and suitable washers or plates 0;? on the ends of the uprights. The

blocks carry a square rod a upon which the heads 13 are adjustably carried, being held in position thereon by set screws 1). The c'arriers a of the heads are reciprocated .on their guides a by means of links a which are pivotally attached at one end to ears a on the carriers and at their opposite ends to disks 8 on the ends of the through-shaft S The blocks a are raised on their uprights against thesprings a, by means of arms a, which" are pivoted at a to the ,risers or standards at on the frame inthe rear of the disks .9 The arms are provided with antifriction wheels a, which are in the paths of suitable camportions ofithe disks 8 to lift the parts-againstthe stress ofthe springs.

The free ends of the arms are provided with anti-friction rollers a that bear against the 'underfaces' of ledges or projections a 011 the blocks a, as shown in Fig. 2. I

Each feed-head comprises a block 6 which is provided with a square opening to receive the'rod a, and isadjusted onthe rod according to-the position required, which ofcourse may vary with the width of the sheets. The. block carries a screw-rod I),

provided with a handle b and which en-.

'67, which are adapted to move in ways or guides on opposite faces of the block, being raised 'or lowered by rotating the screw-rod.

Each plate is provided with top and bottom offset ears 6 and b", which are perforated for the reception of the stem b of a foot I).

The stem passesthrough the opening of the lower ear, where it is provided with a crosspin 6 and it is then somewhat reduced in diameter and extended through the opening of the-upper ear.'- The bore of the upper ear is threaded for engagement with the external thread of a hollow screw-bolt b ,pro-

vided with a knurled head I), and adapted to loosely receive the upperend of the stem. The screw bolt bears on a coil spring I), which surrounds the stem and with its ower end bearing on a washer b" on the pin of the stem, whereby the stem is yieldingly mounted in the plate and the pressure of the spring may be varied. The lock-nut 6 holds the bolt in adjusted position. The sole or bearing surface of each foot I) is composed of a laminated structure made up of alternate plates or disks of rubber b and wood or other fibrous material 12 secured together by suitable parts, as shown in Figs. 19, 22 and 23. The rubber plates are larger than the others, and form the contact surfaces, the other plates providing. small air gaps intermediate the rubber plates. Each foot is provided with a guide stem 6 which enters a suitable opening in the plate I)".

From a consideration of the foregoing it is apparent that the feed-heads and bucklers may be adjusted upon their respective carr'iers to accommodate any width of paper that the machine may receive, and that the bucklers may be set nearer to or farther from the heads according to the length of i the sheets.

The feeding-01f mechanism is located at the front of the machine, and comprises opposing ,disks having intermittent cotipera-.

tion. The shaft S ,is providedat intervals with disks s, which are adapted to cooperate with disks s, to feed-off the sheet or eject it from the feeder to the associated machine after it has been preliminarily sepa-.

rated from the ile. The disks 8" are mounted on a shaft 8 that is loosely journaled in a pair of swinging arms 8", pivoted to the frame at st? and provided at their rear ends with anti-friction rollers s, that are adapted to be engaged by cams s on the shaft S as shown in Fig. 3. The cams operate the arms when the feed-feet are raised from the pa er, and the opposing disks cooperate to eed the sheet clear of the machine, the length of cooperation being of course dependent upon the length of the cams 8 V The paper table T runs in suitable guides in the frame, and is raised and lowered by suitable screw-shafts t which are connected together for simultaneous operation by a cross-shaft t and miter-gears t. An-anglelever t is pivotedupon one side of the frame,

. leg of the angle lever is provided with a arm is provided with a dependin catch t, adapted to receive a latch-lever t,

which normally-engages therewith and holds the roller t against the force'of the spring i and out of operativerelation with the depression 6 formed in the periphery of-the disk. It is obvious that when the latch is disengaged from the lever, the spring t will draw the roller t against the edge of the disk t and into the depression, whereby the pawl is drawn-up -iover one or more of the ratchet-teeth, and when-the roller rides out of'the depression and is returned by the enlarged periphery of the disk to the posi- I tion of Fig. 3, the pawl will be forced down to turn the shaft 25 to raise the table. The unshipping of the latch is preferably accomplished by means controlled-Y by the height of the paper on the table. The latch is secured upon a rock-shaft t one end of which bears in the end frame of the machine and the other in a bracket 25 which is se,

cured by a set-screw upon the air-tube at the center of the machine. The rock shaft is provided with a weighted arm t", which 'tendsto throw the face end of the latch 6 into engagement with the catch t, and-the pin t. A bell-crank lever 23 is 'PIVOtGd in the lower end of the bracket at about the middle of the machine, the longer leg of'the lever being projected into the path of the paper at the front edge oft the machineand? provided with an anti-friction roller t i The opposite or adapted to rest thereon. upper end of the lever 21 projects behind the pin t, and is provided with an adjustable set-screw If, adapted to be locked in position by a set-nut and adjusted so as not to contact twith the pin t when the roller is held by the paper at what may conveniently be termed normal position. When,

however, the paper pile is reduced by the successive feeding of the sheets, or otherwise, to a .height below normal position, the

front end of thelever drops and causes the screw 23 to engage the lug to rock the shaft to move tlielatch t from its catch lug or shaft, to'support the latter at the center of the machine by any'suitable interposedblock,

provided on the frame to guide a movable stem h, which has suitable sliding, engagement with a forwardly projecting arm Ill-on the rock-shaft h The stem it carries an adjustable collar It, which is locked thereon by a set-screw h, and two coil springs It and It are provided, one above and the other below the collar, and bearing respec tively upon the upper .and low-er ears. By this construction the stem is-balanced in position, and WllBILIIlOVGdQlIl either direction will return to its normal central position.

The stem carries a latch h at its lower end,

which is adapted to throw asuita-ble clutch, whereby the machine may be started and stopped.

The clutch is shown in detail in Figs. 24 I to 28, and comprises a disk h, which is suit ably keyed to the main shaft Syand a driving member ht, which is loosely mounted on the shaft and is constantly rotated by any suitable means, as the gear wheel 8. The diskh is provided on. its face with the lateralflange h, which is cut awayor recessed at any suitable point to form a seat h, having one wall or face abrupt for its full depth, as at h and the other abrupt for a portion -,of its depthvand then developing into an incline k The driving member h is in the form'of a sleeve, andis provided on' its inner face'with a'recess k in which a pin h is seated. The pin It is provided with a pocket It in its rear end,"which receives a protracting spring 12, bearingbetween the base of thepocket and recess to throw the pin it. The pin is. rovided on its'outer. face with a stop or;led ge h, which fits in a corresponding cut-away of the recess h, and

holds the pin from turnlng as well as limiting its inward movement. The stop is formed with an angular shoulder h on its front end, and is provided'with .a cross-cut h forming a recess The slee've'h isprovided with a standard 7137, having a bracket h at its outer end, against which one end of a coil spring la -bears, its opposite end bearing upon a catch'k provided with a guidepin It, about which the spring iscoiled. The catch is providedv with a lug h on its bottom having an inclined or rounded face h; and with a lateral shoulder/2 h" as the sleeve rotates to lock the sleeve With thepartsin the position of Fig. 24, the members of the clutch are disengaged,

and as the sleeve h revolves the projection or shoulder h does not contact with the latch 72. If new the stem h be raised, by moving the handleI-I in the appropriate direction, it will project an eccentric face It, on the upper surface of the latch, into the path of'the shoulder h, whereby the catch it is raised against its spring from engage ment with the recess 72. and the pin It is projected by its spring against the flange.

h. and passes down the incline into the seat and disk together to rotate the shaft S. When it is desired to open the clutch, the

handle is oppositely moved to lower the stem h, whereby the lateral cam it on the, lower portion of the latch h is thrown into the path of the angular shoulder 12. whereby the pin it is protracted until the lug 71, en-

gages its seat k The pin is then held in retracted position, and the parts of the clutch are disconnected. I From a consideration of the above di'sclosure it is'apparent that the initial sgparation of the top sheet from the pile is e ected sheet into the bight of the feed-off Hie-Chan,

ism, the heads rise to the position of Fig. 4:,

sheet. As the heads rise, the bucklers'agaiu at or near its rear corners, and that the buckling or arching thereof occurs during the slower movementof the bucklers provided b the elliptical gear, at which time the fee -heads are in the osition of Fig. 6. At themoment after the bucklers have performed their function, the heads are projected to the position of Fig. 7, o deliver the sheet to the feeding-off mechanism.- When the feed-heads have projected the and-the disks 8 are raised to cooperate momentarily with the disks 8 to eject the become operative and buckle the next sheet,

while the heads are being retracted to the position of Fig. 6, and'the feed-off becomes inoperative. I

By means of-the adjustments provided for the bucklers and heads, the machine may operate on difierent sizes of sheets. Allt'he operating devices for therear portions of v the sheet being inounted on a single. carriage, the machine can be readily adjusted to the required size.

The pile of sheets is keptautomatically in operative relation with respect to the bucklers and heads, and the machine imay be quickly started and stopped by the handle, which may be placed in easy reach of the-attendant. I It is to be understood that the shaft S .may be driven by elli tical gears if desired,

in order to give the eed-heads a slow forward movement and a quick return.

I make no claim in this application to the clutch herein shown; the same has been the - rod.

divided out of this application and made,

the subject-matter of a {divisional application filed Jan. 26, 1903, bearing Serial Numnation with a paper-table, of front feeding devices adjustable with respect to the width of the table, a carria e adjust-able lengthwise of the table, and ucklers rotating at a variable speed and cooperating holders adjustable on the carriage transversely of the table.

3. Ina sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a paper-table, of front feeding devices adjustable with res ect to the width of the table, a carriage a justable lengthwise of the table, air-nozzles adjustable on the carriage, and bucklers rotatin at a variable speed and holders having in ependent adjustment on the carriage across the table..' 4. In a sheet-feedin machine, the combination with a aper-ta 1e having rearwardly extending gui es,. and front-feeding devices,

of a carriage comprisin' sleeves movable on the guides and cross-r s on thesleeves, and rotatable bucklers adjustable on" the rods and driven by connections with one of the rods.

'5. In a sheetffeedin machine, the combination with a aper-ta le havin rearwardly extending gui es, and front-fee ing devices,

of a carriage comprisin sleeves movable on ides and cross-r0 s on the sleeves, and

buck ers and holders adjustable independently on the rods. 1

6. In a sheet-fe'edin machine, the combination with a aper-ta le havin rearwardly extending gui es, and front-fee ing devices,

of a carriage comprising sleeves movable on the guides and cross-rods on the sleeves, means to rotate one of said rods, rotatable bucklers adjustable on the rods, and means to. operate the bucklers from the rotating 7. In a sheet-feedin machine, thecombination with a aper-ta 1e having rearwardly extending gui es, and front-feeding devices, of a carriage comprising sleeves movable on the guides and cross-rods on the sleeves,

means to rotaie one of said rods, blocks on the rods, rota' ing pads on the blocks, and gearing between the pads and rotating rod.

8. In a sheet-feeding-machine, the combination with a paper-table having rearwardly 'ber 140,530 and patented August 31, 1909,

I wheel on its rod, a pad mounted to rotate on said block, and means to drive the pad from the said gea wheel. a

9. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a paper-table having rearwardly extending guides, and front-feeding'devices, of a carriage comprising sleeves movable 0n the guides and cross-rods on the sleeves, means to rotate one of said rods, gear-Wheels splined on said rotating rod, blocks adjustable on the rods and each provided with means to move one of the' gear-wheels, a

pad rotatably mounted on said'block, andgears on the block between the pad' and wheel thereon. v I

10. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a paper-table having rearwardly extending guides, and front-feeding devices, of a carriage comprising sleeves movable on the guides and cross-rods on the sleeves,

, means to rotate one'of'said rods, gear-wheels splined on said rotating rod, blocks adjus'table on the rods and each provided with means to move one of the gear-wheels, ashaft on each block driven by one of' the gear wheels, a second rotatable shaft on each block and having a pad, and miter-gears betweeh the shafts of the block.

11 In a sheet-feedingmachine, the combination'with a paper-tablehaving rearwardly extending guides, and front-feeding devices,

. of a carriage comprising sleeves movable on the guides and cross-rods on the sleeves,

means to rotlate one of said rods, gear-wheels splin'ed on said rotating rod, blocks adjustable on the rods and each provided with means to move one of the vertical shaft on each block, a gear-Wheel on the vertical shaft driven by one of the first gear-wheels, a horizontal shaft on each block carrying a rotatingbuckler, mitergears between the shafts of the block, a cam on the lower end of the vertical shaft, and a r presser foot on-the block cooperating with;

the cam.

nation with a frame having a main-shaft, a paper-table on the frame, and-means driven by the main-shaft to buckle the paper at the rear, of a front-feed comprising carriers reciprocating horizontally on the frame,

blocks sliding on the carriers toward and splined on said rotating'rod, a block gear-wheels, a

a shaft, :1

nation with a frame having a main shaft, a

paper table on the frame, and means driven by the main shaft to buckle the paper at the rear, of a front feed comprising carriers reciprocating on the frame, blocks on the carriers, rods on the blocks, and feed pads on the rods.

16. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination with a paper table and means to buckle the sheets near the rear, of a front feed comprising a rod reciprocating on the frame, blocks adjustable on the rod, plates adjustable on the blocks, and stems carrying rubber pads yieldingly mounted on the plates.

17. In --a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a frame having a rotating shaft,apaper table on the frame, and means to initially separate the top sheet of the paper-stack, of horizontal guides near the frontof the frame, carriers on-the guides, standards on the carriers, blocks movable on the standards and carrying feed-heads, connections bet-ween the shaft and carriers to reciprocate the latter on the guides, and'connections between the shaft and blocks to raise the latter.

18. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a frame having a rotating shaft, a paper table on theframe, and means to initially separate the top sheet of the paper-stack, of horizontal guidesnear the front of theframe, carriers on the guides, standards onthe carriers, blocks movable on the standards and carrying feed-heads, links frame and movably engaging the blocks, and

n means to rock the arms to raise the blocks. 12. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combi- 19. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a frame having a rotatin aper table' on the frame, an means to initially separate the top sheet-of the paper-stack, of horizontal guides near the front of the frame, carriers onthe guides, standards on the, carriers, blocks movable 0n the standards and carrying feed-heads, disks on the shaft, links between the disks and carriers, arms pivoted on the frame engaging'the blocks and in the path of the disks. I

2Q. Inasheet-feeding machine, the combination with a paper-table, and a reciprocatconnecting the carriers and shaft to recip-- rocate the former, arms pivoted to the on and having a plate, a stem movably mounted on the plate, a spring for the stem, a .set-screwffor thev spring, a lock-nut for the screw,and a pad on the stem.

22. In a sheet-feedingmachine, the com- I 'bination with a paper-table, and a reciproeating rod, of feed-devices adjustable thereon and comprising a block,- a plate adjustable on the block, a stem havinga pad'and I novably mounted on the plate, a spring for the stem, and the spring. A v

v 23." In a sheetsfeeding machine, the combination with a paper-table, and a reciprocating rod, of feedsdevicesadjustable thereonand comprising a block having a wayor guide, a plate in the guide, a 'screw rod on one of the-Par havlng threaded connection .with the other, and a foot having a .stem. yieldingly. mgunted 'onrtheplate; 7*"

24. In a sheet-feeding machine, the com-- bination witha paper-table, and a reciproeating rod, of feed-devices adjustable thereon and comprising a block having guides or ways on opposite sides, plates in the guides, a union for the plates, a screw-rod connected with the block'and having threaded 'conn'ection with the union, andstems each carrying a a foot and'yieldingly mounted in one of the plates.

bination with a paper-table and front-feed devices, of-a rear buckler having a rotating shaft carrying a laminated pad movable into and out ofengagement with the 'pileof sheets by the rotation" of the shaft.

26. In a sheet-feeding machine, the COI'I1- bination with a paper-table and front-feed devices, of a rear buckl'er' com rising a block, a' horizontal rotatin sha t on the block, a sleeve loose on the s aft, an arm on V the sleeve carrying a pad, a spring between the sleeve and shaft, and a stop tolimit the movement of the sleeve.

- 27 In a sheet-feeding mach bination with a paper-table and front-feed devices, of a rear kling-pad on the bracket, said bracket being adjiustable to vary the angle of attack of the P v 1 28, In a sheet-feeding machine, the com bination with a paper-table and front-feed devices, of a rear' buckler comprising a block having a segmental web, a bracket adjustable on the web, and a buckling-pad (in the bracket.

29. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a ried by the plate.

means to adjust the force of bination with a a sheet-feeding ni'achine, the coin-- e, the combuckler comprising a.- b1ock,'.a.bracket on the "block, and a. buc

-a sprin I aper-table and front-feed devices, of a rear uckler comprising a block having a segmental web, a bracket having a slot and pin connection with the web, and a buckling-pad on the bracket.

3.0. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a paper-table and front-feed devices, ofa rear buckler comprising a block, a plate vertically adjustable on the block, and a positively rotated buckler-pad car- 31. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a paper-table and front-feed devices, of a rear buckler comprising a block,

' a plate vertically adjustable, on the block, a bracket carried by the plate, a driven shaft mounted in the bracket, and a rotating buckler-pad driven by the ehaft.

32.. In. a sheet-feeding machine, the,com-

aper-table and front-feed devices, of a rearfbuckler comprising ablock, a plate adjustable on the block, a bracket on the plate, a vertical'drivenshaft on the bracket, ahorizontal shaft on the bracket. A and carrying a rotating buckler-pad, gears connecting the shafts and means for adjustably uniting the plate and bracket on a gment of a;c1rcle whose center-is the axis of the vertical shaft.

' 33. In a sheet-feeding machine, a buckler com rising a block having a guide or way, a p ate movable in the way, a screw-shaft engaging the block and plate to adjust the latter on the former, a bracket on the lower end of the plate, a vertical shaft mounted on the bracket and assin through the block, a gear in the Bloc aving slidin connect-ion with theshaft, a longitudina shaft on the bracket. and geared to the first shaft, and a buckler-pad operated by the longitudinal shaft.

34:. In a' buckler for sheet-feeding machines, a rotating horizontal shaft, a sleeve rotating withthe shaft and having an'arm,

a hub at the end of the arm, a in in the hub, a sleeve loose on the p1n an carrymg a buckler-frame, a spring between the frame andpin, and a detent for the frame,

35. In a buckler for sheet-feedlng machines, a rotating horizontal shaft, a sleeve rotating with the shaft and having an arm, a hub at the end of thearm and having having a head provided with. a projection adapted to any one of said holes, a sleeve loose on the pin and carrying'a buckler-pad, between the in and pad, and a coil springbetween the oose sleeve and first spring. A v

36. In a sheet-feedin machine, the combination with front feeding devices, of rear rotating buckle'rs moving at a'variable speed.

37; In a sheet-feeding machine, the'combination with a. buckler-block, a rotatin buckler-pad'mounted thereon, and a she. a

a series of annular holes, a pin in the hub" to drive the pad, of a spring-pressed holding-foot on the block, and a. cam on the shaft to raise the foot.

38. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a buckler-block, a rotatin buckler-pad mounted thereon, and a sha to drive the ad and provided with a cam, of a stub on t e block, a sleeve on the stub, a spring for the sleeve, a foot on the sleeve, and an arm on the sleeve in the path of the cam.

39. Ina sheet-feeding machine, the combinationwith a buckler-block, a rotatin buckler-pad mounted thereon, and a she to drive .the pad and provided with a cam, of a stub on the block, a sleeve on the stub, a coil spring on the stub secured to a collar at one end and to the sleeve at the other end, a pin on the stub to engage the collar, a foot on the sleeve, and an arm on the sleeve in a the path of the cam.

40. In a sheet-feeding machine the combination with a paper-table, and front-feedin devices, of rear bucklers, air-nozzles, and he ders against which the sheets are buckled, file holders being provided with feet and s. 41. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a paper-table, and front-feeding devices, of laterally adjustable rear bucklers, adjustable air-nozzles, and laterally adjustable holders having rear feet and front lips.

42. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination with apa er table, of feed devices provided with lammated pads movable into and out of engagement w1th the sheets.

43. In a sheet feeding machine, the com-- bination with a paper table, of a rear sheet separating device provided with a laminated pad movable into and out of engagement with the sheets. I v

' 44. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a paper-table,'screw rods to raise the table, a shaft cared to the rods and having a ratchet, an a pawl to operate the ratchet, of a lever to o crate the pawl,

a latch for the lever, a re -shaft carrying the latch, a lug on the shaft, 9. pivoted arm whose frontv end rests on the paper and whose rear end is adapted to'contact with the lug to rock the shaft when the front end falls below its normal position, cams to operate the lever when the latch is operated, and means to return the latch to engagement with the lever.

45. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a paper-table, and sheet-separating devices, of a feeding-off mechanism comprlslng a main-shaft having disks, an idle anxihary shaft located under the main shaft and having cooperating disks, arms supporting the'auxiliary shaft, and came to raise the arms to cause the disks of the shafts to cooperate.

46. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a paper-table, and sheet-separating devices, of a feeding-off mechanism comprising a main-shaft having disks, an idle auxiliary shaft located under the main shaft and having opposite disks, cam-arms for the auxiliary shaft, a driven shaft, and cams on the driven shaft to raise the arms.

47. In a sheet-feeding machine, a feedpad movable into and out of engagement with the sheets and consisting of thin disks of rubber separated by washers of lesser diameter than the disks. I

48. In combination with a sheet feeding machine provided with a table and front feeding devices, of rear feeding devices rotated at variable speed.

49. In combination with a sheet feeding machine provided with a table and front feeding devices, of rotatable rear feeding devices rotated at variable speed.

50. In combination with a sheet feeding machine provided with a table and front feeding devices, of rotatable bucklers, and elliptical gearin for rotating the bucklers at variable s eetI.

51. A fee ad consisting of thin parallel sectionso rubber arranged to engage and flatten out against the paper at their edges.

52. A feed pad consisting of thin disks of rubber fastened together transversely of the axis of the pad and adapted to engage the pa er at them edges.

53. n a sheet feeding machine, the combination with a buckler block, of an angularly adjustable b'uckler pad rotatably momted thereon, and a shaft to rotate the p 54. In combination with a sheet feeding machine provided with a table and front feeding devices, of rotatable sheet separat'ors, and elliptical gearing for rotatlng the separators.

55. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination with a main shaft and front feeding devices, of a carrier, rear feeding de-, vices mounted upon the carrier, and a shaft to actuate the rear feeding devices, and an elliptical gear connection between the main shaft and the shaft actuating the rear feeding devices.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOMER 0. LA BATT. 

